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PFAS · TECHNICAL COMPARISON

GAC, IEX or instrAction?

Performance, space requirements and costs depend on the specific water. The comparison helps select testing criteria but does not replace engineering design.

iA PERFORMANCE · TEST RESULTS

An advantage
demonstrated by measurements.

How well does iA capture PFAS at higher loading rates and after treating more water? Explore key comparative test results.

Simplified charts of instrAction laboratory tests compare iA P 425 and the tested IEX. Three PFAS compounds are shown; the results describe the stated media test, not a complete industrial assembly.

Samples for laboratory assessment of filtration efficiency
01 / BINDING RATE

Performance at higher loading rates.

Increasing loading rate: up to 1,000 BV/h

iA · P 425 testTested IEX

PFOA (C8)

PFOA removal chart: iA maintains higher performance while the tested IEX declines with loading rate or treated volume. Approximate test trend.

PFHxA (C6)

PFHxA removal chart: iA maintains higher performance while the tested IEX declines with loading rate or treated volume. Approximate test trend.

PFBS (C4)

PFBS removal chart: iA maintains higher performance while the tested IEX declines with loading rate or treated volume. Approximate test trend.

Simplified test curves based on the original charts. Values are approximate readings; lines between selected points indicate the trend.

What does the chart show?

As loading increases, the green iA curves remain close to 100%. The orange curves for the tested IEX decline. In this test, iA maintains high PFAS capture even with shorter water contact time.

1,000 BV/h is a comparison point in the laboratory test. For industrial assemblies, we use a design range of 100–250 BV/h, confirmed by testing the actual water.

02 / TREATED WATER VOLUME

Sustained performance during operation.

Treated volume: up to 20,000 BV at a constant 25 BV/h

iA · P 425 testTested IEX

PFOA (C8)

PFOA removal chart: iA maintains higher performance while the tested IEX declines with loading rate or treated volume. Approximate test trend.

PFHxA (C6)

PFHxA removal chart: iA maintains higher performance while the tested IEX declines with loading rate or treated volume. Approximate test trend.

PFBS (C4)

PFBS removal chart: iA maintains higher performance while the tested IEX declines with loading rate or treated volume. Approximate test trend.

Simplified test curves based on the original charts. Values are approximate readings; lines between selected points indicate the trend.

What does the chart show?

As more water passes through the medium, the tested IEX gradually loses efficiency. iA remains close to 100% for PFOA and PFBS, while PFHxA falls to approximately 90% towards the end. The difference demonstrates better retention of iA performance under the test conditions.

WHY iA

Binding sites
designed for target substances.

iA technology uses functional binding sites for selective PFAS capture. The large number and accessibility of these sites enable instrAction’s rapid binding.

Advantage over the tested IEX

The tests show higher performance at greater loading rates and treated volumes. For operators, this offers the potential for a more compact design and better media utilisation.

Advantage over GAC

instrAction’s technology comparison assumes 2–5 BV/h for GAC and 100–200 BV/h for iA filter assemblies. A higher loading rate means less media volume at the same flow and the potential for a smaller installation.

Industrial configurations and flow ratesLaboratory PFAS analysis
GAC · IEX · iA

What do different
configurations look like?

From industrial adsorbers to cartridge housings. The photographs show equipment designs; a space comparison is then prepared for your flow rate.

Granular activated carbon vessels at a water supply station
01 / GAC

Granular activated carbon

Larger vessels with a media bed, pipework and space for maintenance and carbon replacement.

GAC vessels at a water supply station. Photo: Suffolk County Water Authority.
Ion-exchange vessels for PFAS removal at an ACWD facility
02 / IEX

Ion exchange

Pressurised resin vessels. Overall installation size depends on capacity, the number of lines and operating conditions.

Example of an ACWD PFAS installation. Photograph and description: Alameda County Water District ↗
High-flow filter elements and freestanding metal housing
03 / iA FILTER ASSEMBLIES

Modular cartridges and housings

Filter elements in a compact housing. Multiple units can be connected into a system to meet the required flow.

Compare media and space requirements ↗
SPACE · ILLUSTRATIVE CALCULATION

The difference starts
with media volume.

At the same flow rate, required media volume depends on the permitted loading rate. Final system size also includes housings and maintenance space.

Presentation illustration: large GAC vessel, smaller IEX vessel and compact high-flow iA filter assembly
SAME FLOW · THREE TECHNOLOGIES

How much filter media is needed?

Indicative media volume for treating 120 m³ of water per hour.

120 m³/h
Lower estimateRange to upper estimate

All bars start at zero and use the same scale. The dark section shows the lower estimate and the light section extends to the upper estimate. This is media volume, not equipment size or footprint.

What does this mean for space? Less media can allow smaller housings. Actual footprint in m² depends on vessel diameter and height, parallel and consecutive stages, standby capacity, pretreatment and maintenance access. We do not state a specific space saving without these details.
GAC · IEX · iA FILTER ASSEMBLIES

instrAction advantages
in a technology comparison.

Selective PFAS capture, rapid binding and modular design: key differences for planning your system.

CriterionGAC
Granular activated carbon		IEX
PFAS-selective anion-exchange resin		instrAction
iA filter assemblies · selective filtration
PFAS capture mechanismAdsorption onto porous activated carbon.Ion exchange on a dedicated anion-exchange resin.Purpose-designed instrAction binding sites selectively capture PFAS on a hydrogel platform.
Short and long chainsActivated carbon generally retains long-chain PFAS more effectively.Dedicated resins for capturing anionic PFAS.The technology is developed for selective capture of short- and long-chain PFAS.
Binding rateTreatment in an activated carbon bed with a longer contact time.Treatment in an ion-exchange resin bed.Rapid binding enables high-flow filtration; the tests shown demonstrate an advantage over the tested IEX.
System compactnessIn this comparison: 2–5 BV/h.In this comparison: 10–20 BV/h.In this comparison: 100–200 BV/h. A higher loading rate means less media is needed at the same flow rate.
Increasing flowAdding or enlarging adsorption vessels.Adding or enlarging resin vessels.Modular BIG assemblies: housings connect in parallel to match growing capacity needs.
Integration into an existing systemCarbon vessels, associated pipework and media replacement space.Resin vessels, associated pipework and maintenance access.Cartridge design enables flexible installation and integration of a dedicated PFAS stage into existing treatment.
Maintenance and operationBulk carbon replacement and arrangements for spent-media handling.Resin replacement and arrangements for spent-media handling.Replaceable cartridges enable planned maintenance. We combine analysis, replacements and filter collection into comprehensive client support.
FROM TECHNOLOGY TO IMPLEMENTATION

iA filter assemblies.
A solution tailored to you.

Industrial housings with multiple BIG cartridges, flows up to 28 m³/h per housing at 200 BV/h, and parallel connections for higher capacity.

Explore industrial assemblies
Filter housing detail on the iA MTU mobile unit
MOBILE FILTRATION UNIT

Testing at your site.

A pilot system with approximately 1–2 m³/h flow, providing a basis for designing a larger industrial installation.

More about the mobile unit
ECO ELEMENT · TALK TO A SPECIALIST

Let’s compare using your water.

Let’s agree matching test conditions and assess performance, media life and total costs.

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